(FREDERICK, MD) – A West Virginia man is in custody in that state awaiting extradition to Maryland after Maryland state troopers investigating a January armed bank robbery in Frederick County encountered the armed suspect yesterday on a Charles Town parking lot.
The suspect is identified as Norman C. Hilbert, Sr., 47, of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. An arrest warrant has been obtained by Maryland State Police criminal investigators charging him with armed robbery, robbery, first and second degree assault, and theft between $1,000 and $10,000. He is currently being held on criminal charges in West Virginia, awaiting extradition to Maryland.
At about 11:30 a.m. on January 26, 2015, troopers from the Frederick Barrack were dispatched to an armed robbery at the PNC Bank, in the 3900-block of Jefferson Pike, Jefferson, Md. Troopers learned the suspect brandished a handgun, threatened a teller, and escaped with cash in a maroon vehicle, possibly an SUV. No one was physically injured in the robbery and no shots were fired.
Investigators from the Maryland State Police Criminal Enforcement Division assumed the investigation and soon learned the license tag on the suspect’s vehicle observed leaving the scene was stolen. Troopers identified the suspect vehicle as a GMC Acadia and their investigation led them to a store parking lot in Charles Town, WVA. Investigators determined the registration plate displayed on the suspect’s vehicle when the robbery occurred had been stolen from a vehicle parked on that store parking lot. Surveillance video showed a suspect in that parking lot and store similar in appearance to the bank robbery suspect.
Yesterday morning, Maryland State Police investigators returned to that store parking lot in the unit-block of Patrick Henry Way, Charles Town, WVa, to continue their investigation. When they entered the lot, they saw a maroon GMA Acadia, with registration plates that belonged to another vehicle. While watching the vehicle, troopers saw a man approach it who appeared to be the same person in the surveillance videos.
The Maryland troopers called 911 for assistance and followed the suspect in his vehicle as he left the parking lot. Units from the Charles Town Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and the West Virginia State Police stopped the suspect vehicle.
The driver was identified as Hilbert. He was wearing a shoulder holster with a loaded semi-automatic pistol and extra loaded magazine. Although uncooperative, Hilbert was arrested without incident.
West Virginia law enforcement officers assisted Maryland troopers with their investigation after the arrest and additional information and evidence was recovered. State Police investigators applied for and obtained the arrest warrant last night. West Virginia authorities have been notified of the warrant and it is serving as a detainer.
Hilbert is facing criminal charges in West Virginia following yesterday’s arrest. It is unknown when he will be returned to Maryland to face the bank robbery charges.
